Alternative Medicine, Treatment, and Education

Monthly Archives: September 2016

Natural remedies are common all over the globe and are rising in popularity within the UK. A lot of types were founded on the thought ‘how the body works’. Treatment is given in relation to this theory. Most were developed before modern medicine was created. Using alternative medicines might help when used with conventional medicines but should not be used instead of.

Natural medicines can offer a few benefits, and there are a few different thoughts and practices on the subject – usually originating from where the natural ingredients and treatments were developed.
For example, the ancient Chinese Medicine has become more popular within the UK, and includes treatments like acupuncture and herbal remedies for specific diets. Ayurveda, originating form India, is also practiced. This includes body exercises such as yoga, massages and detoxing.

In conjunction to the old natural health care methods, there is also a range of natural products that are used widely. Homeopathy has begun to be used to treat illnesses such as hay fever and promote a healthy diet and lifestyle.

There are many different types of alternative natural medicines on the market today. These are often used by many people who don’t want to always take conventional medicines. These medicines are becoming more and more widely available as the demand for them grows. Complementary medicines can often be used along with other conventional medicines just as an aid to recovery. These often prove to be helpful to many people.

People are becoming more and more wary about using conventional medicines as they feel they aren’t good to be taking all the time. As it is become more important to look after your health, people are looking at trying new alternative methods of getting well.

Natural Medicines don’t only come in the forms of medicines orally but they are also available to be practised physically. These include methods such as yoga, tai chi and acupuncture.

Alternative medicine is a healing practice that falls outside the realm of conventional medical practices. This type of complementary medicine has been the most popular prevalent method of treatment followed for ages. There are still practitioners devoting their time in practising this branch of medicine.

Principal of alternative medicine

The basic principal on which the treatments are based in alternative medicine is the belief that the body has the capacity to heal itself. This healing process of the body needs to be supplemented with naturally occurring holistic approaches.

Different types of alternative medicine

Mind and Body techniques- This branch of alternate medicine is based on the philosophy that the mind has healing powers. Emotional and mental factors affect a person’s well being and healthy living. Depression, headache, insomnia are some of the health problems that can get treated by mind body techniques. The common techniques used in this kind of alternative medicine are laughter therapy, yoga, exercise and medication.
Biologically based therapies- This type of therapy uses the different naturally occurring substances to cure diseases. The different substances used are-

· Herbs – The nature is rich in medicinal plants. The therapeutic value of these plants is used to cure diseases. The leaves of Ocimum plant, for example, are used to cure chronic cold and cough conditions.

· Food- This branch of alternative medicine emphasises on the intake of balanced food and the importance of the various nutrients like Vitamins and minerals to maintain good health.

· Acupuncture and acupressure- Both the types of therapy involve putting pressures at designated areas of the body to relieve the body of pain. In acupuncture pins are poked at the designate places.

3. Chiropractic medicine- In this alternative therapy, the muscular tissues and the skeleton bones are rearranged in to a comfortable position for relief from pain.

4. Massage therapy – This is a combination of acupuncture and chiropractic medicine to relieve the patient of stress and pain.

5. Energy therapy – This involves the use of magnetic fields to restore the energy of the body cells.

With the increase in the severe side effects associated with main stream medicine, more and more people are bending towards alternative medicine for better treatment without any side effects and better results.

Today, a large number of people suffer from diabetes every year. A natural diabetes remedy majorly includes in your diet and found to be extremely beneficial in curing diabetes. If you’re suffering from diabetes, your diet is of prime importance in order to put a control on diabetes. Most of the people think that without taking medicines they can’t control diabetes but it is important to know that diabetes can be cured without taking any allopathic medicine.

According to the holistic approach of health, there are mainly three natural cures for diabetes including,

Diet Exercise Nutritional Supplements

Diet is the prime and best natural diabetes remedy for diabetes patients. An ideal diabetic diet menu must contain a low glycemic index which means the food containing low level of carbohydrates, adequate protein, and rich amount of fiber. This kind of diet helps in diminishing diabetes blood sugar levels; reduce intake of insulin levels, and lesser the need for medications. It will also help to lose weight, reduce blood pressure; this cures the diabetes and promotes body’s overall health and energy.

Juices of tomato, Rose apple, Lemon, Cucumber, Bitter gour, Spinach, Carrot and Cabbage are found to be very helpful in curing the diabetes in a natural way.

Although, we know that a small set of exercise helps in maintaining good health, but most often we ignore this. In case of diabetes, one needs to follow some sort of physical exercises. It not only helps in improving blood circulation but helps in strengthening the immune system as well.

There are numerous nutritional supplements that one should take as a natural diabetes remedy in order to cure diabetes naturally. These supplements are very powerful and help in lowering blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.

Treating diabetes naturally is always a good idea when it comes to find a reliable and proven remedy.

Divine Wellness is an online health portal that provides huge set of information of various remedies including natural diabetes remedy.

Going to the doctor is not like it used to be. In olden times doctors visits were more personalized and in depth. Now traditional medicine is very impersonal and doctors send you home with up to 5 prescriptions that you need to start taking right away. The only problem is you will return next week because of all the side affects that you have from all the medicine the doctor prescribed you in the first place and your original problem still wont be solved. Unfortunately, the reason behind all the new prescriptions is because of all the kickbacks that doctors get for prescribing them. Although, these medications dont help the patients and will undoubtedly cause more symptoms. So many Americans have started looking towards complementary and alternative medicine.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical practices that are not generally accepted by conventional medicine, conventional medicine being medicine practiced by an M.D., D.O., psychologist, registered nurse, or physical therapist. This group of medicine is continually changing and types of medicine are very broad, however the ultimate goal of this type of medicine is find whole body health and wellness. The principals and guidelines for each individual type of CAM although diverse are based on holistic properties, whereby treating the body as a whole and resolving the underlying problems are far more important in the long run rather than just reducing the symptoms.
CAM involves the connection between the mind and body and not only relieves symptoms but works to resolve the underlying problems as well. Although, used in conjunction with one another, complementary and alternative medicines are two completely different groups of medicine. Complementary medicine unlike its cohort is used in conjunction with traditional medicine. Therefore the treatment or medicine complements conventional means of resolving pain, disease or illness. Where as alternative medicine, is used in place of conventional medicine to promote self-healing, and preventative medicine.
In the past, CAM was not accepted due to its lack of scientific basis and evidence. However, because many CAM practices are deeply rooted in Eastern history and are based upon traditional medicine, folk knowledge, and spiritual beliefs people are now turning to this type of medicine. Not to mention that patients are seeing and feeling results from CAM. There is no greater influence than someone elses testimonial, which is causing the rise in CAM. Western medicine, although still hesitant, is just beginning to use some alternative medicines as complements to their conventional methods. Additionally insurances have turned the corner and started allowing several alternative medicines as part of their covered benefits. Thats not to say that CAM is completely accepted by the medical community, it is a long way off. However it has opened the door for new approaches to healing some of which are old ideas with new methods.
Due to the diversity of available CAMs, it is easier to group them together to understand what type of medicine and treatment is rendered. The categories include natural products, mind-body medicine, and manipulative and body-based practices. Natural products include a variety of herbal medicines, vitamins, minerals and other natural products. Products considered natural can include dietary supplementation, herbal or botanical, and probiotics. Mind-body medicine focuses on the connection between the mind and the body to heal and promote health. These practices include meditation, yoga, acupuncture, deep-breathing, guided imagery, hypnotherapy, and tai chi. Lastly manipulative and body-based practices focus on the body systems and their structures. Spinal manipulation from chiropractic care and massage therapy are two commonly used body-based practices.
Before you choose a CAM it is best to research and ask your friends and coworkers for suggestions. It is normal to be nervous or apprehensive because it is not mainstream, however with the popularity and growth that it continues to receive, CAMs are the next group of conventional medicine.

Going to the doctor is not like it used to be. In olden times doctors visits were more personalized and in depth. Now traditional medicine is very impersonal and doctors send you home with up to 5 prescriptions that you need to start taking right away. The only problem is you will return next week because of all the side affects that you have from all the medicine the doctor prescribed you in the first place and your original problem still won’t be solved. Unfortunately, the reason behind all the new prescriptions is because of all the kickbacks that doctors get for prescribing them. Although, these medications don’t help the patients and will undoubtedly cause more symptoms. So many Americans have started looking towards complementary and alternative medicine.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical practices that are not generally accepted by conventional medicine, conventional medicine being medicine practiced by an M.D., D.O., psychologist, registered nurse, or physical therapist. This group of medicine is continually changing and types of medicine are very broad, however the ultimate goal of this type of medicine is find whole body health and wellness. The principals and guidelines for each individual type of CAM although diverse are based on holistic properties, whereby treating the body as a whole and resolving the underlying problems are far more important in the long run rather than just reducing the symptoms.

CAM involves the connection between the mind and body and not only relieves symptoms but works to resolve the underlying problems as well. Although, used in conjunction with one another, complementary and alternative medicines are two completely different groups of medicine. Complementary medicine unlike its cohort is used in conjunction with traditional medicine. Therefore the treatment or medicine complements conventional means of resolving pain, disease or illness. Where as alternative medicine, is used in place of conventional medicine to promote self-healing, and preventative medicine.

In the past, CAM was not accepted due to its lack of scientific basis and evidence. However, because many CAM practices are deeply rooted in Eastern history and are based upon traditional medicine, folk knowledge, and spiritual beliefs people are now turning to this type of medicine. Not to mention that patients are seeing and feeling results from CAM. There is no greater influence than someone else’s testimonial, which is causing the rise in CAM. Western medicine, although still hesitant, is just beginning to use some alternative medicines as complements to their conventional methods. Additionally insurances have turned the corner and started allowing several alternative medicines as part of their covered benefits. That’s not to say that CAM is completely accepted by the medical community, it is a long way off. However it has opened the door for new approaches to healing some of which are old ideas with new methods.

Due to the diversity of available CAM’s, it is easier to group them together to understand what type of medicine and treatment is rendered. The categories include natural products, mind-body medicine, and manipulative and body-based practices. Natural products include a variety of herbal medicines, vitamins, minerals and other “natural products”. Products considered natural can include dietary supplementation, herbal or botanical, and probiotics. Mind-body medicine focuses on the connection between the mind and the body to heal and promote health. These practices include meditation, yoga, acupuncture, deep-breathing, guided imagery, hypnotherapy, and tai chi. Lastly manipulative and body-based practices focus on the body systems and their structures. Spinal manipulation from chiropractic care and massage therapy are two commonly used body-based practices.

Before you choose a CAM it is best to research and ask your friends and coworkers for suggestions. It is normal to be nervous or apprehensive because it is not mainstream, however with the popularity and growth that it continues to receive, CAM’s are the next group of conventional medicine.

Having fresh, clean, younger looking skin is a goal that everyone especially women aspire to. With an unlimited amount of beauty products on the market it is hard to determine which product will work best for different types of skin. But what if you could get clearer looking skin through all natural means? Well you can, with a product that most people use in their kitchens or grow in their gardens daily. Lemons are great for the body both internally and externally. Lemons have amazing natural beautifying properties as well as cleansing, detoxifying and astringent capabilities.

Although it is unknown where lemons originated, they were first documented as growing in China and India. They traveled into Europe and were used mainly as ornamental plants throughout the first several centuries. Christopher Columbus spread lemons to the Americas where they were used for the most part as decoration and in conjunction with some types of medicine such as treating scurvy. It wasn’t until the eighteenth century that lemons were widely cultivated in Florida and California. Now lemons are widely used in cooking, sanitation, antibacterial, aromatherapy, skin care, and beauty regimens.

Lemons are rich in nutrients and can be used for numerous beauty, skin, hair and health care treatments. Lemons act as astringents, diuretics, cleansers and detoxifiers for the body systems. They contain many substances such as citric acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin, and limonene, all of which are essential to the bodies daily functioning.

The most notable substance that lemons behold is Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which is vital to removing free radicals that can damage healthy cells throughout the body. Free radicals are the biggest threat to our skin because they damage the cell and its membrane. Vitamin C is the only antioxidant that that can also increase collagen synthesis. Collagen is responsible for skin strength and elasticity, and as we age collagen production decreases and causes wrinkles. However, vitamin C sends a signal to collagen genes to start production. So vitamin C has duel responsibilities for the skin, by removing free radicals, which can alleviate wrinkles, and stimulating collagen production, which keeps our skin looking healthy and young. Additionally vitamin C has been known to kill specific strains of bacteria that can cause acne.

Other ways that lemon can be used include lightening discolored elbows, exfoliating dead skin, diminishing the appearance of freckles, lightening age spots, dandruff treatment, smooth and pretty feet, add bounce and shine to your hair, remove blackheads and acne, prevents sunburns, clears eczema, acts as an antiseptic to clean wounds and reduce wrinkles. With the abundance of ways that lemon can improve the quality of our skin, hair and nails, it’s a wonder why not more people use it in their beauty regiment. There are several ways in which a lemon can be used on the skin.

Whether you drink, rub, mix, scrub, drip or simply apply a lemon to your skin you are bound to get the desired affect. Depending upon what you are trying to do will determine how you apply lemon or lemon juice to your body. Putting lemon in your water daily is not only said to boost the immune system, cleanse the body of toxins and increase heart health but it rejuvenates and refreshes the look of your skin. Our skin needs daily water intake to hydrate however by adding lemon to our water we can cleanse the skin of toxins. By rubbing a cut lemon directly on our skin or skin that is affected by acne or blackheads, it can remove dead skin cells and eliminate acne and blackheads. Leave lemon juice on skin overnight or rinse after a half hour with warm water. By dripping lemon juice in one’s hair and directly on the skin will eliminate dandruff and make skin glow. Mixing lemon and honey in warm water is not only a great drink, but can be applied with a cloth to eczema, acne, or sunburns to reduce the inflammation. Honey is a great anti-inflammatory and enhances the healing properties of lemon. Used together they are great against fighting colds, relieving pain and irritation and rejuvenating the skin.

Lemon juice should always be used directly from the fruit rather than from the bottle. Bottled lemon juice is manufactured so some of its properties can be changed or interrupted during the manufacturing process. Always make sure you are not allergic or irritated by lemon juice before using any lemon treatments. Use lemon daily on skin, hair and nails to look younger, fresher and clearer.

Bad breath is quite a common and very embarrassing problem. It is caused by a poor dental care and oral hygiene, irregular brushing and flossing your teeth that results in excessive amounts of bacteria on the teeth and tongue. The primary source of bad breath that can be treated directly is the growth of sulfur producing, anaerobic bacteria in the mouth. This is one area which can be tackled directly using herbal remedies for bad breath.

1. Clove (Eugenia aromaticum) It is good for bad breath caused by rotting food in mouth, used in old time mouth wash and powders, herb can be drying.

2. Anise seeds have been used for centuries as an effective herbal remedy for many health problems and ailments. It is a truly legendary herb, but not many people know that a special mouth rinse made of anise can replace the most effective modern mouth washes based on chemicals. All you need to do is steep a pinch of anise seeds in 100 ml of boiling water and wash your mouth after having meals.

3. Peppermint is a simple herbal remedy for bad breath symptom relief – there is a reason why it can be found in so many oral products, including toothpastes and chewing gum. For bad breath, you would want to use the essential oil. The essential oil of peppermint is antibacterial, and it smells good. It will also help to balance the PH levels of the mouth to some degree, which will extend its anti-bad breath effect to a certain degree.

4. A South American remedy that is used is gargling with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder. Combine the mixture with hot water. This should be done in the morning. It supposed to keep your breath fresh all day.

5. Unripe guava is useful in halitosis. It is rich in tannic, malic, oxalic, and phosphoric acids as well as calcium, oxalate, and manganese. Chewing it is an excellent tonic for the teeth and gums. It helps cure bleeding from gums and stops bad breath. Chewing tender leaves of guava tree also stops bleeding from gums and bad breath.

6. Foods and herbs that contain chlorophyll include parsley, spirulina, chlorella, alfalfa, or natural chlorophyll tablets. Chlorophyll tablets to be used as a bad breath herbal remedy should contain liquid form chlorophyll. Chlorophyll alleviates bad breath to some degree by neutralizing various sulfur compounds. Earlier in the article, sulfur-producing bacteria were mentioned. These sulfur compounds are one of the substances that will make someone turn his or her head. Garlic and onions are also sulfur-containing foods, so chlorophyll can help to neutralize their odor.

7. Wash the tongue with baking soda dissolved in warm water to reduce the acidity in your mouth making a less-friendly environment for the bacteria to grow. This is one of the best bad breath cure.

8. These herbal remedies are rich in chlorophyll, a green pigment. It is a very powerful natural freshener with very strong deodorizing effects. Also, it is possible to use Dill (Anethum graveolens). To get rid of bad breath instantly, it is possible to chew on some dill seeds or drink a cup of special dill tea (should be prepared like usual black tea).

For some people, using herbs can work better for their system because they are not abrasive to their system. Not only are they a natural product, but since these herbs are taken orally, they will affect your blood and eventually provide a relief for your bad breath.

Toenail fungus also called onychomycosis is caused by a cluster of fungus called dermatophytes. This fungus is dangerous because as they develop they feed on the keratin that makes up the surface of the toe nail. Toe nail fungus causes disfiguration and discoloration of the nails. It is a contagious disease and some times it may be hereditary. Symptoms of toenail fungus are quite obvious. The affected nail will get yellow or brown in colour. It may become so thick and overgrown that it may be painful to wear shoes. Foul-smelling debris may get accumulated under the nail. The nail may crumble and eventually fall off.

Sneaks or spots can be seen down the side of the nails of the affected person. Toe nail fungus can widen from one toe to another or to other body parts. Athletes and people who give trauma to their toe by wear tight-fitting shoes or tight hosiery are at great risk of toe nail fungus. Other reasons may be abnormal pH level of the skin, not drying off the feet thoroughly after bathing or exercise, and decreased immunity. There are some home remedies that use commonly available ingredients to stop the growth of the fungus and eventually eliminate it. Toe Nail Fungus home remedy treatment is quite effective.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil serves as an effective home remedy foe toe nail fungus. Tea tree oil is an good option. Tea tree oil contains chemicals known as terpenoids which are believed to provide the oil its medicinal properties. It is a natural antiseptic that helps a great deal in fighting with fungus. Apply undiluted tea tree oil with olive oil to the affected toe nail. Alternatively you can put few drops of tea tree oil on toenails and rub it thoroughly every day. Do this twice daily, morning and just before going to bed (three times if possible) for maximum effect. In many cases it is blended with other essential oils believed to have some effectiveness against nail fungus.

Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the best known ways to cure toe nail fungus. Vinegar is a home remedy for toe nail fungus that has been around for a long time. Vinegar is an acid. You must stay vinegar on for as long as it takes to get rid of the fungus. Soak your toenails in this solution for about 20 minutes. Wipe your toes and toenails thoroughly with a dry towel and then with super absorbent paper. This should be done twice daily till symptoms disappear. Most vinegar cure toe nail fungus consists of daily foot baths in a solution of 50% water and 50% vinegar. Many people dislike the taste of apple cider vinegar, and add it to another beverage, such as fruit juice or a carbonated beverage. Keep in mind that acid drinks may damage tooth enamel over time, so rinse thoroughly or brush your teeth afterwards if you are taking apple cider vinegar for toenail fungus treatment.

Vicks VapoRub

Applying Vicks VapoRub to fungus-infected toenails can clear up the notoriously hard-to-treat condition. The several uses of Vicks VapoRub, including rubbing it on the soles of feet to prevent a child’s excessive nighttime coughing as well as using it to treat toenail and fingernail fungus. Massage Vicks Vapor Rub on toenail and in a matter of days the toe nail will start turning dark in color. The dark color means the vicks is killing the fungus.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most active ingredients for treating the nail fungus. The treatment of nail fungus with hydrogen peroxide is also known as the oxidative therapy. The best way to get hydrogen peroxide from fruits is to juice them. When you drink a glass of fresh carrot juice you can feel the effect of the hydrogen peroxide because you get a warm sensation around your neck and your face feels flushed. Drink freshly made juice within 10 minutes because the cells have been crushed and disturbed and the taste will quickly change.

Conclusion

Wear cotton socks to absorb moisture from the feet that happens from sweating. Never use nail clippers belonging to someone else for the same reason. Avoid sharing towels, washcloths, shoes or any other personal items of those people who have already contracted this disease. Keep your nails cut short, and don’t use nail polish. Trim your toenails regularly. Trim them into a straight line and then smooth the edges with a nail file. Diet plays a very vital role in curing any ailment.

The ever-changing environment around us may sometimes have a negative effect on our health. As a result of this, we tend to fall ill more often as compared to the previous generations in our family. We get more tired than our dads used to at our age. A lot of people say the scientifically created medicines that we use today are the cause of this. There are some who just think that a different way of approaching health issues will be beneficial. In light of this, alternative medicine has risen to success.

Everyone believes each individual is different. So it seems obvious that the health issues affecting every individual will be different. In that case, there should be another way to treat these health issues besides with the help of scientific medication. Alternative medicine is the best way to describe any practice that is put forward as having the healing effects of medicine but is not based on evidence gathered using the scientific method.

Such methods usually include a wide range of health care practices, products and therapies using alternative medical diagnoses and treatments. These practices are typically not included in the degree courses of medical schools or used in conventional medicine. A leader that comes out strongest in the product form of this practice is the cod liver oil. It is rich in vitamins, especially A and D, and Omega-3 acids. Traditionally, it was manufactured by fermenting cod fish livers with sea water for about a year. Now a days, it is manufactured in a controlled environment which does not take as much time. But it is very essential to check the authenticity of the product before using it.

Like many fish, the cod fish is rich in Omega-3 acids. But the cod fish contains less than one percent saturated fat in its meat as compared to other fish. Due to this, the cod liver oil that is obtained also has less fat and can be used in many ways. In the old days, it was directly ingested in the liquid form. But due to the distinct fishy smell, it is now sold in the form of capsules. Eating cod fish directly also serves the same purpose.

Benefits of this supplement:

– Sooth aching joints due to arthritis

– Prevent upper respiratory tract infections in children

– Reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes in children born to mothers who took cod fish oil supplements

– Fight inflammation associated with heart disease, heal the lining of the arteries, reduce the clogging of the arteries and improve blood vessel function

– From conception through adolescence, it can provide developing children with what they need to thrive.

– Improve the health of skin and hair

– Topically applied to speed wound healing

Scientific research today is no longer concentrated on establishing the healing power of real food. For the most part, science today focuses on trying to prove the validity of pharmaceutical drugs which can be patented and sold for high profit. There is little interest in inexpensive natural treatments that can’t be patented. Communities that support alternate medicine are demanding a more thoughtful approach instead of the traditional pill popping philosophy. Judging by the increasing interest of the public, it is clear that conventional medicine no longer fulfils the needs of people.